Inherited and Acquired Traits

Which of the following is a learned skill?

• Breathing in air

• Drinking water

• Writing your name

• Sleeping for rest

Makeup

• Acquired trait

• Inherited Trait

Dyed purple hair

• Inherited trait

• Acquired trait

Which of these actions is a learned behavior?

• A dog drools when he smells meat.

• A dog brings a stick back when playing fetch.

• A dog scratches in response to insect bites.

• A dog sheds his winter coat in the spring.

Being good at Science

• Instinctual behavior

• Learned behavior

• Inherited physical trait

• Acquired physical trait

Where do physical traits like fur color, hair type or eye color come from?

• Genes inherited from the environment

• Genes inherited only the female parent

• Genes inherited only by the male parent

• Genes inherited from both parents

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

Natural blue eyes

• Inherited trait

• Acquired trait

• Instinct

• Learned behavior

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Mike is observing a number of traits from different organisms. He needs to classify the traits as inherited or acquired. The traits he observed are listed below. Select ALL the traits from his list that are INHERITED TRAITS.

• Spider spins a web

• Human drives a car

• Fur spots on a dog

• Green leaves on a tree

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

Color blindness

• Inherited trait

• Acquired trait

Ava is watching a spider on a tree branch. The spider begins to spin a web between the branches. An insect gets caught in the web and the spider wraps it up in silk. Ava needs to determine if this action is instinct or a learned behavior. Which question would help Ava make this decision?

• Does the spider do the action immediately without thought?

• What color is the spider that is observed?

• How many nutrients will the spider get from the insect?

• How big is the spider's web?